Cleaning device



H. L. FEASEL CLEANING DEVICE July 28, 1936.

Filed Jan. 9, 1934 Patented July 28, 1936 UNETE STAT CLEANING DEVICE Harry L. Feasel, New Rochelle, 'N. Y. Application January 9, 1934, Serial No. 705,851

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved cleaning device, the novel features of which will 'be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawing, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a container for cleaning fluid having my invention applied thereto and taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure appearing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of a structure appearing at the top of Fig. 1 showing the invention as ready for use;

Fig. '4 is a view showing one of the parts appearing in the other figures.

In the embodiment which I have shown in the drawing, the numeral l indicates a can or other suitable container for a cleaning fluid 2. The device is of particular utility in connection with cleaning clothes or other material made of fab- .r'ic, and normally the cleaning fluid 2 will be some material suitable for that purpose. The container may be of any usual construction and may comprise a top 3 having as part thereof a cap 4 with a hole 5 therethrough. The cap may be secured to the rest of the top in any suitable ,manner, as by screw threads indicated gener- Disposed within the cap is a liner, here shown as formed of a piece l of sheet metal and a felt or other fibrous sheet 8 so arranged that when the cap is screwed into place onthe container, the hole 5 will be closed, as plainly shown in Fig. 1.

The cap is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 9 to support a remover ID having a pair of vertically spaced annular walls Ill and I2 defining "between them an annular space 13 which may be used as a reservoir, as will be more fully explained presently. Disposed over the hole 5 is an applicator l4, here shown a sheet which may be of any suitable absorbent material adapted to soak up the fluid coming through thehole 5. This material may be fibrous, for example a suitable fabric, and preferably has asoft upper surface adapted to contact with the kind of material used in garments. The applicator has a circumferentially extending skirt it: received between thewall 2 with the reservoir and the threaded side is of the cap, this side I 6 being in turn connected to the flange 9, as will be evident from the drawing. Likewise extending over the cap and above the applicator is a sheet H of scel-lophane or like protective material having its edge portion contacting with the wall I .2, as plainly shown in Fig. 1.

In operation, the cellophane I] may be torn out so that only a fragmentary portion thereof remains, as seen in Fig. 3. The entire cap may .5 be removed, and the liner formed by the sheets 7 and 8 may be removed by a suitable tool, as, iorexample, the point of a knife. The cap may then be replaced and the parts will appear as in Fig. 3.. The fluid may then be caused to flow 1 through the hole '5 as :by inverting the container, which will cause the fluid to spread through the applicator. By rubbing .the moistened applicator against the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning fluid may be applied thereto. For the purpose of 5 regulating the flow of fluid, 'I have shown a valve in the form of a disk 58 having a plurality of cars 19 adapted to be received between the side l6 and wall l2. It is of course understood that the remover is in the form of a continuous ring, as 1 plainly shown in Fig. 2, and that when it is pushed into place :on the cap, it will tightly bind between the side 16 and the wall l2, the edge portion of the applicator, the ears l9, and the edge portion of the cellophane, although the latter may be emitted if desired.

In using the appliance thus far described, the fluid may be forced through the hole 5 by pressure upon the bottom 20 of the can. This pressure will cause thexdisk l8 to be forced away from the hole 5 by the pressure of the fluid within the container, which fluid may then be soaked up by the applicator. Upon release of the pressure, the disk will close the hole.

The remover is provided with an upper surface 2t which is approximately flush with the upper surface .22 of the applicator M. In the form shown, this surface .21 is slightly above that of the applicator, so that they will both engage the surface of the material being cleaned. The surface 2.! is provided with cups :23, here shown as arranged in a single row extending circumferentially of the remover and being semi-circular, as viewed in plan. The back 24 of each cup is in the fomnofa semi-circular flange projecting upwardly from the surface 2|, and the bottom 25 of each .cup extends upwardly from the surface 2;! ito meet the :back :24. Adjacent each back is preferably provided an aperture 26 communi eating with the reservoir I3. In the reservoir is dis-posed absorbent material, here shown as :27 of blotting paper or the like, near the bottom of the reservoir. The bottom is shown as being open except for the flange 9, to which flange the ring-shaped remover is detachably clamped by a plurality of tongues 28 received in the circular groove 29 in the wall ll. Beneath this groove is a beveled rib 30 over which the tongues 28 may snap when the parts are being assembled or disassembled.

From the above it will be seen. that the cleaning fluid may be applied to a garment or the like which is being cleaned and then the fluid may be rubbed in by the movement of the applicator back and forth over the surface of the garment. The same movement will cause movement of the remover, and the dirt loosened by the fluid will be taken up by the cups and will pass through the apertures 26 into the reservoir i3. The action of the remover may be explained on difierent theories, but probably what happens is that the dirt is thoroughly moistened and loosened to' some extent by the fluid and also by the friction of the applicator 22. The backs 24 of the cups probably aid also in loosening the dirt, and this dirt is then probably scooped up by the various cups, and since it is thoroughly wet, it will flow through the apertures 26. I have used the word dirt as a convenient one to cover all material which it is desired to remove from the surface which is being cleaned.

.Whether or not the above theory of what happens is the correct one, the fact remains that a device constructed in accordance with that which I have described above is found to work very satisfactorily. The device is one which can be made cheaply and is extremely simple to manufacture. It can be readily cleaned by snapping off the remover and cleaning out the reservoir I3, the removal of the reservoir likewise permitting removal and replacement of the applicator, if desired. The entire top of the remover, including the cups, may be readily cleansed. The device may be used on a can of any size or shape and may be applied to a can having a top of standard shape and size, for example by merely punching a hole in the cap forming a part of that top. After use, the liner formed by the parts 1 and 8 maybe replaced, thus avoiding danger from fire, since most of the cleaning fluids are inflammable. Preferably, the remover is formed of somematerial like bakelite, or may be formed of metal if found desirable. In any case, it is preferably formedof material which is relatively hard and rigid as compared to the material of the applicator which is relatively soft.

It will be seen that the hole is surrounded by an upwardly extending ridge or flange 5'. It will be understood that the cap 4 is usually formed of metal, and thisridge may be formed at the same time that the hole 5 is punched, this being accomplished by any suitable tools. The disk I8 is of relatively soft material ascompared to the materialof the'cap and may, for example, be made of fiber into which the ridge 5. will sink as the parts are clamped together. This aids in making a tight seal surroundingthe hole 5 and prevent ing escape of fluid through that hole.

While the cups 23 are shown as of certain form and arrangement, it is of course understood that these may be changed materially Without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Preferably, however, the bottom of each cup is inclined away from the applicator, the'steepness of this inclination being something which can likewise be varied as found I desirable. Preferably, also, .the backs 24 of the cups cooperate to form a sub- :stantially continuousridge around the remover, :in this particular form this ridge being undulatingain form; Thus no space is leftfor escape of means for feeding cleaning fluid from the container to the applicator, a valve controlling flow of the fluid from the container to the applicator, a remover secured to the container adjacent the applicator, said applicator and remover having surfaces approximately flush with each other, whereby the applicator may apply the cleaning fluidto the material to be cleaned and the remover may likewise engage the same material to remove the dirt loosened by the fluid.

2. A top for a container for cleaning fluidand the like having a member with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, a valve formed of a piece of sheet material extending over said hole between the top and the applicator and normally closing said hole and adapt-ed to yield upon pressure being exerted upon the contents of the container to permit fluid to pass through the hole to the applicator, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator to the top, and means on said valve likewise extending between said ring and top and thereby clamped to hold the valve in place.

3. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharge therethrough, a valve formed of a piece of sheet material extending over said hole between the top and the applicator and normally closing said hole and adapted to yield upon pressure being exerted upon the contents of the container to permit fluid to pass through the hole to the applicator, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator to the top, and means on said valve likewise ex- 9 tending between said ring and top and thereby clamped'to hold the valve in place, said ring having a reservoir therein and its top having apertures communicating with said reservoir.

4. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a substantially flat circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges 9 of the top and down the sides thereof and stretched substantially flat across the top, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof 2,049,054 'the top and stretched substantially flat thereon,

and a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof against the side of the top, the top of said ring being approximately flush with the surface of the applicator and having projections extending upwardly therefrom, said ring having a reservoir therein and its top having apertures communicating with said reservoir, said apertures being disposed adjacent said projections.

6. In combination, a. container for cleaning fluid having a circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges of the top and stretched substantially flat thereon, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof against the side of the top, the top of said ring being approximately flush with the surface of the applicator, and cups disposed on said top and facing towards the applicator.

7. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges of the top and stretched substantially flat thereon, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof against the side of the top, the top of said ring being approximately flush with the surface of the applicator, and cups disposed on said top and facing towards the applicator, the bottom of said cups being formed by the upper surface of the top and extending upwardly away from the applicator.

8. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges of the top and stretched substantially fiat thereon, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof against the side of the top, the top of said ring being approximately flush with the surface of the applicator, cups disposed on said top and facing towards the applicator, and a reservoir in the interior of said ring and communicating with said cups through apertures in said top.

9. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges of the top and stretched substantially flat thereon, a ring surrounding said top and clamping the applicator thereto by pressing the edge portions thereof against the side of the top, the top of said ring being approximately flush with the surface of the applicator, cups disposed on said top and facing towards the applicator, the bottom of said cups being formed by the upper surface of the top and extending upwardly away from the applicator, and a reservoir in the interior of said ring and communicating with said cups through apertures in said top.

10. In combination, a can having a top with a hole therethrough, an applicator adapted to receive fluid discharged from said hole, a remover having a surface adjacent that of the applicator and a reservoir in said remover adapted to receive dirt or the like and communicating with said surface.

11. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a top with a hole therethrough, an applicator disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, and a valve formed of a piece of sheet material extending over said hole between the top and the applicator and normally closing said hole and adapted to yield upon pressure being exerted upon the contents of the container to permit fluid to pass through the hole to the applicator, said hole being surrounded by an upwardly extending ridge and said sheet material being relatively soft, whereby said ridge may sink therein to form a seal surrounding the hole.

12. In combination, a container for cleaning fluid having a substantially flat circular top with a hole therethrough, an applicator in the form of a sheet of absorbent material disposed over said hole and positioned to receive fluid discharged therethrough, said sheet extending over the edges of the top and down the sides thereof and stretched substantially flat across the top, said top having an outwardly extending annular flange, a ring disposed above said flange and contacting with the portion of said sheet which extends down the sides of the top to clamp sai-d sheet against the top, means on said flange and on said ring detachably securing said ring to said flange, and other means on said top and on said. container detachably securing said top to said container.

HARRY L. FEASEL. 

